Friday, 8 July 2011

Murdoch scandal - UPDATE

Looking at things at face value, it appears Rupert Murdoch's empire is under threat in the UK. I'm afraid the closing down of the News of the World (printed with sh*t) is an attempt at whitewash so Rupert won't jeopardize his bid for BSkyB.

Vincent Cable had his number. He's the MP for Twickenham (my former constituency) and I had the opportunity to see him sipping coffee at my local cafe on many occasions. Unfortunately, Vincent has been removed from the decision making process on Murdoch's bid because he was a bit too candid in his opinions.

[A bit of trivia about Vincent Cable: He's a very keen ballroom dancer and could outdance Bristol Palin at the age of 68... any day.]

I started disliking Rupert Murdoch many years ago, when he took onthe printers union in 1986, aided and abetted by Margaret Thatcher.

David Cameron has ordered a public inquiry into the fiasco, but I wouldn't hold my breath about it. Cameron has a lot at stake here, as the former news of the World editor Andrew Coulson was a member of his government until January this year and there are strong allegations against him.

The problem with public inquiries in the UK is that they often let the culprits off. Tony Blair (George Bush's poodle) ordered one such inquiry about the death of a man who dared blow the whistle on the weapons of mass destrution that justified the invasion of Iraq. We believe Dr David Kelly was bumped off by the secret service, but the inquiry painted a very different story...

David Kelly

Rupert Murdoch is a very clever weasel who has the establishment on his side.

Let's hope the American media will do their job for a change and that the true nature of this beast comes to light at long last.

*****

UPDATE

The plot thickens...

The Guardian:

Andy Coulson, the prime minister's former press spokesman, has been arrested and is being held in custody at a police station in south London.

The arrest came after Operation Weeting officers were handed further information from News International three weeks ago which detailed allegedly illegal payments to a handful of officers at the Yard.

He will be questioned on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and "on suspicion of corruption allegations" contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

The Independent:

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson and one of his former top reporters were being questioned about alleged corruption today after a dramatic double arrest by Scotland Yard.

Mr Coulson, the ex-Downing Street communications chief, was also being questioned over phone hacking during his time at the paper.

Police sources later confirmed that former royal editor Clive Goodman - who was jailed in January 2007 over the scandal - had been rearrested in connection with alleged payments to police.

Officers investigating Operation Elveden - the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World - and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation, are questioning the pair.

The moves by Scotland Yard pile further pressure on the Prime Minister, who gave Mr Coulson a job at No 10 despite his association with the scandal.

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